July - August 2017

A Goa Tourism Newsletter

Vol 3 Issue 16

@TourismGoa

www.facebook.com/officialgoatourism

www.goatourism.gov.in | www.goa-tourism.com

Goa gets second allotment of CFA to the tune of

Rs. 100 crore under Phase II of Swadesh Darshan

An amount of Rs. 100 crore has been allocated to Goa by the Union Ministry for Tourism under

the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Goa under

the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) made a detailed

presentation before the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee

headed by Secretary Tourism Ms. Rashmi Verma following which the

project was approved under Phase II for Coastal Circuit

Development in the State.

While the initial allotment of Rs 100 crore under Phase I for

Coastal Circuit Development is being utilized for developing

the coastal belt in North Goa from Sinquerim to Keri, the

phase II allotment of Rs 100 crore will be utilized for

developing the South Goa coastline from Panjim to Palolem.

Projects have been envisaged all along the South Goa coastline,

however some of the key coastal areas, that attract major footfalls,

which will get a facelift through the coastal circuit development plan,

include Dona Paula, Miramar, Colva, Benaulim, Palolem.

Some of the components include providing basic amenities of toilets,

lighting, tourist facilitation centers, CCTVs, GIS systems, beautification etc.

Hon’ble Minister for Tourism,

Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar

interacts with

Ambassador of Portugal

to India

Indian Ambassador to Portugal, Ms Nandini

Singla impressed on improving tourism ties

between Goa and Portugal, in addition to

boosting prospects of exchange programmes in

the areas of sports and literature.

Ms Singla, on a short visit to Goa called on Mr.

Manohar Ajgaonkar, Minister for Tourism, Govt. of Goa

at the Paryatan Bhavan where a wide range of issues were

discussed on promoting ties between the two regions.

With tourism as the common platform for Goa and Portugal, Ms Singla urged Goa Tourism to participate at the Portugal Travel

Mart as Goa has all the ingredients to attract foreign nationals from Portugal to this State. The Indian ambassador to Portugal also

informed Goa Tourism that she would be initiating talks with Air India to explore possibilities of direct flights from Lisbon to India

subject to commercial viability. She also urged Goa Tourism to seek any assistance from the Government of Portugal with regards

to conservation and restoration projects in a bid to preserve Goa’s rich heritage.

Also present for the meeting were Mr. Menino D’Souza, Director of Tourism, Mr. Nikhil Desai, MD, Goa Tourism Development

Corporation and Mr. Savio Messias, President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.

Indian Ambassador to Portugal, Ms Nandini Singla interacts with Hon’ble. Minister for Tourism, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar

Goa Tourism bags Best Wedding Destination

and Best Nightlife Destination awards at

IITM 2017 Bangalore

Goa was selected for two prestigious awards at the IITM 2017, Bangalore as the

Best Wedding Destination and Best Nightlife Destination. The two awards were

bagged by Goa Tourism at the India International Travel Mart (IITM) 2017,

Bangalore during the three day event held between July 21 – 23, 2017.During

the three day IITM 2017, Bangalore, Goa Tourism showcased its facets and

promoted Goa as a 365 day holiday destination. Several B2B sessions were

organized between travel and tourism operators and officials from Goa Tourism. A

Goa evening was also organized and attracted a huge audience. Goa Tourism received

an overwhelming response from travel and tour operators and a large number of

bookings for the on-going monsoon tourism and up-coming tourism season were

finalized.

Goa Tourism participates in TTF Kolkata

2017Goa Tourism participated at the TTF held in

Kolkata from July 7-9, 2017.

The Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Mr.

Manohar Ajgaonkar was the Chief Guest at

the concluding ceremony and

distributed awards to several prize

winning States including Goa Tourism

which bagged the ‘Best Decorated

Stall Award.'

Goa's pavilion at the TTF Kolkata

2017 was a big draw for tourists and

Goa Tourism received an overwhelming

response during the three day event.

A total of 24 States and six international

countries participated in the three day mega

event.

Goa was one among the five Partner States for

the three day TTF Kolkata 2017.

Goa Tourism participates in TTF Hyderabad 2017

Goa Tourism participated at the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF)

Hyderabad from July 14 -15, 2017 showcasing a plethora of

facets and activities available for tourists in the State of Goa.

Goa Tourism successfully marketed itself as a 365 day

holiday destination and its pavilion at the TTF –Hyderabad

received an overwhelming response from tourists, locals and

travel and tour operators.

Goa Tourism bagged the Best Décor Award at the TTF Hyderabad.

The award was presented to the Goa Tourism officials by Mr. Sanjeev

Agarwal, CEO, Fair Fest Media.

Chief Guest at TTF Kolkata's concluding ceremony and Goa's Minister for Tourism, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar

Goa Pavillion at TTF Hyderabad.

Second edition of

‘Freedom Ride’ rally a

grand success

Goa is known to be a bikers paradise.

Year after year, hundreds of bikers

converge to explore the length and

breathe of this state. After the

successful conduct of the Freedom

Ride rally last year, the second

edition of the Freedom Bike rally was

organised by Wild Trek Outdoors in Goa

on August 15 in association with Goa

Tourism. This year, the response was

overwhelming with over 85 bikers exploring

Goa’s hidden treasures. The freedom ride rally

made its way through various locales of Goa

giving the participants picturesque glimpses of

Goa’s churches, water bodies, beaches, temples, villages and much more. The rally covered locations like Hutatma Smarak,

Patradevi and Mayem Lake.

The rally was flagged off by Mr. D.B. Sawant, General Manager, Finance, GTDC in the presence of Mr. Gavin Dias, General

Manager, Mktg and Hotels, Mr. Laxmikant Vaigankar, General Manager, Admin and Mr. Deepak Narvekar, Senior Manager & PRO,

GTDC.

Huge crowd assembled to witness the bikes zoom by and cheered the participants at several key locations.

An interesting quiz competition was also held making the trip even more exciting. Special prizes were given to those who were

dressed up in traditional costumes.

Best State for Organizing Carnival

Award conferred on Goa Tourism

by ITCTA

Goa Tourism has been conferred with an award for the Best

State Organizing Carnival at the the 5th International Travel

and Tourism Conclave and Expo (ITCTA) held in New Delhi

recently.

Goa Carnival attracts lakhs of tourists every year to witness

the elaborate float parades held across the State. The King

Momo float Parade along with his entourage and the convoy of

floats dressed in bright colours, music and dances mark Carnival

celebrations every year. In 2016, Goa Tourism organized Destination

Carnival, a collaboration of ideas between UK, South Africa and Goa to

set new bench marks in the organization of Goa Carnival.

In 2018, Goa Carnival will be held from February 10-13.

Mr. Laxmikant Vaigankar, GM,GTDC,Mr. Deepak Narvekar, Senior Manager and PRO, GTDC along with other staff of Goa Tourism at International Day for Biological Diversity

Freedom Ride Rally 2017 being flagged off by GTDC, GM, Mr. D.B. Sawant,in the presence of Mr. Gavin Dias,GM, GTDC & Mr. Deepak Narvekar, Senior Manager & PRO, GTDC.

GTDC achieves highest turnover and net

profit for financial year 2016-17

Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited (GTDC) recorded a healthy

financial growth and highest profits ever in the history of the Corporation

for the fiscal year 2016-17.

GTDC achieved an all time high turnover of Rs. 32 crore. Similarly the

net profit after depreciation and setting off all the

expenses/adjustments has been recorded at Rs 1.42 crore. From a net

profit of RS 1.08 crore in 2015-16, the Corporation earned a huge net

profit in 2016-17 which is an increase by 31 per cent.

Due to its proactive and professional management of assets, GTDC has

continued to keep its financial growth graph rising. In 2012-13 the GTDC had

recorded an annual turnover of Rs 24 crore, in 2013-14 a turnover of Rs 26 crore, in

2014-15 and 2015-16 a turnover of Rs 28 crore and in 2016-17 a turnover of around

Rs 32 crore.

The GTDC has also contributed and paid to the Central and State Government a total of around Rs 4.3 crore by way of taxes.

These include luxury tax (Rs 1.2 crore) central service tax (Rs 2.6 crore), road and municipal tax (Rs 10 lakh) and entertainment

tax (Rs 33 lakh ).

Goa Tourism presents cheque to Sarpanch of VP, Savordem,

Sattari towards Goa Tourism’s CSR activity

Shri Nilesh Cabral Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation

presented a cheque of Rs 50,000/- on behalf of Goa Tourism to Mr.

Ashok Pundalik Chari, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Savordem

Sattari in the presence of D. B. Sawant General Manager Finance,

GTDC, Mr. Deepak Narvekar Sr. Manager Mktg & PRO, GTDC at

Paryatan Bhavan Panaji towards up-cleaning and maintenance

of White Water River rafting area in the vicinity of Savordem

Sattari and as part of the CSR activity of Goa Tourism for

this season.

Chairman, GTDC, Mr. Nilesh Cabral extended his gratitude and

appreciation to the village Panchayat of Savordem for

supporting GTDC’s monsoon adventure activity in Mhadei river.

The CSR contribution to the village Panchayat will go towards

upkeep and maintenance of white water rafting area.Goa Tourism presents cheque to Sarpanch of VP, Savordem, Sattari towards Goa Tourism's CSR activity

Training Programme conducted for GTDC

Managers

Goa Tourism Development Corporation

(GTDC) Staff Welfare Association

organized a function on July 4, at Paryatan

Bhavan to felicitate children of GTDC

employees who excelled in examinations

conducted by Goa University and Goa Board

(HSSC and SSC) for the academic year 2016-17. The

function was presided over by Mr. Nilesh Cabral,

Chairman of GTDC, Mr. Nikhil Desai, Managing

Director of GTDC, Mr. Pramod Badami, Chief Engineer,

SPV Cell, GTDC, Mr. Sachin Gore , General Manager, GTDC

and Mr. Laxmikant Vaigankar, General Manager, GTDC &

President of the Staff Welfare Association, Mr. Deepak

Narvekar, PRO & Secretary, Staff Welfare Association, Ms. Thelma Moses, Vice-President, Staff Welfare Association and Ms. Ninfa

Silva, Treasurer, Staff Welfare Association.

Meritorious students were felicitated with certificates and awards.

The meritorious students of GTDC employees who were felicitated were Rashmi Purshottam Desai, Sonaria Fernandes,

Shailashri Bharat Harmalkar, Kapil Purshottam Dessai, Diviya Devidas Gauns Dessai, Sinkika Devu KunkalIkar, Sailesh Bharat

Harmalkar, Siddhanth Siddarth Dessai, Siddarth V. Gauns Dessai, Ruchika Shet Verekar, Anurag Ashok Gawas, Prachi Prakash

Manjrekar, Anisha Raghunath Chodankar.

GTDC Staff Welfare

Association felicitates

children who excelled in

HSSC & SSC exams

GTDC Staff Welfare Association felicitates children who excelled in HSSC & SSC exams

Goa Tourism Development Corporation recently conducted a soft skill training

programme for its staff members including Senior Managers, Managers, Asst.

Managers, housekeepers and staff from tourist facilitation centers and its

head office. Renowned Corporate Coach, Mr. Pravin Sabnis conducted the two

day training programme at Paryantan Bhavan, Patto.

A talk on Investment Opportunities was also conducted by representatives of Bank

of Baroda during the training session.

Mr. Gavin Dias, GTDC’s General Manager, Mktg and Hotels, welcomed and coordinated

the two day sessions. The two day training programme concluded with a valedictory

function.

Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Chairman, GTDC presented certificates to all the participants in the

presence of Mr. D.B Sawant, General Manager, Finance, Mr. Laxmikant Vaigankar, General Manager, Admin, Mr. Gavin Dias,

General Manager, Mktg and Hotels, and Mr. Deepak Narvekar, Senior Manager & PRO, GTDC.

The programme was compered by Mr. Deepak Narvekar. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Gavin Dias.

Training Programme conducted for GTDC Managers

Desi

gned b

y A

MO

com

munic

atio

ns

Pvt

. Ltd

.

Upcoming eventsPhoto of the month

Best

tweets

and...

The monsoon's #Goa

World Tourism Day (September 27)

Bonderam